Author Topic: Download akg393 vs. km184 comparison (Read 6340 times)

aberg · « **on:** December 21, 2005, 12:45:35 AM »

http://s51.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1WPYA3XPUMXZD3DMNFRMBQFV9U

Try and guess which mic is in which recording. The clips are from the same song but at slightly different points. I was too lazy to queue the song back up to the same place. You can still get a good feel for the overall performance of each mic.

Let me know your guesses and preference.

Aaron41 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 21, 2005, 01:30:10 AM »

I'm not sure which is which. I prefer 0003 though. 0002 has this odd watery sound to it. I can't quite describe it but I don't dig it nearly as much as I dig the sound on 0003.

I don't know the differences to be able to pick one out from the other. My guess is that 0002 is the AKGs. They have more of an omni sound to them in my ears. I'd love for the AKGs to be 0003 since I just picked up a pair.

willndmb · « **Reply #2 on:** December 21, 2005, 11:34:28 AM »

i like 002 better in this case
however usually i like akg sound better anyway, so i hope that 02 is the akg
although the akg i think cost far less so maybe the better sound is going to the 184s

but to answer the real question i can not tell which is which

Nick Graham · « **Reply #3 on:** December 21, 2005, 11:40:56 AM »

I say 002 is AKG, 003 is Neumanns.

I prefer 003 FWIW, be interested to know which is which though...

Sanjay · « **Reply #4 on:** December 21, 2005, 11:47:20 AM »

I think this is a great comparison! I enjoyed it

aberg · « **Reply #5 on:** December 21, 2005, 11:54:32 AM »

Yeah, it's been quite informative on my end

I'm going to post one more comparison later today using a sample with much more bass in it, and also using the same segment from each song. I think in the first comparison, different cymbals were used in each part which may contribute that that "watery" sound, but maybe not.

After that I'll post which mics are which.

Sanjay · « **Reply #6 on:** December 21, 2005, 01:33:21 PM »

Here is andrew's second comparison, songs are synced

http://s39.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=374Z1FY2G5VE61FD743XRZW8NT

SparkE! · « **Reply #7 on:** December 21, 2005, 02:43:12 PM »

It sounds like 1B and 2A are the same mics and 1A and 2B are the same mics. I think I like 1B/2A better and I'm guessing that they are the 184s.

momule · « **Reply #8 on:** December 21, 2005, 03:53:08 PM »

I say 002 is Neumanns, 003 is AKG

I like the sound of 002 better. which Is odd for me cause I normally dont like the sound of Neumanns at all..

Aaron41 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 21, 2005, 04:04:03 PM »

I like 1B more than 1A. There seems to be better stereo separation and placement. The instruments are in deeper in your head instead of right in front. Again, don't know if any of this is making sense. lol

I also like 2B more than 2A for the same reason.

Watch... 1B will be the same mic as 2A and totally blow my mind.

I will say though that both mics sound great. I'm happy I picked up the 391s. Just gotta get out and tape.

dgodwin · « **Reply #10 on:** December 21, 2005, 05:40:47 PM »

a=neumanns
b=akgs

my guess

aberg · « **Reply #11 on:** December 21, 2005, 06:02:33 PM »

I'll wait for a few more people to chime in here with their guesses, but this is pretty interesting.

willndmb · « **Reply #12 on:** December 21, 2005, 08:04:49 PM »

as stated in the 1st set i like 002 better
in the 2nd i like 1A better then 1B, there is a noticable difference between them i think
2 A and B sound the same to me, if i had to pick i guess 2b sounds slightly better then 2a

i still couldn't tell you which is which but i like 002, 1a, 2b best in these clips

Ed. · « **Reply #13 on:** December 21, 2005, 08:13:24 PM »

1a,2a = akg
1b,2b = neumann

is my guess, however, i think i like 1a and 2b. I don't know, this is too difficult, my ears are broken, but both recordings sound really good.

dgodwin · « **Reply #14 on:** December 21, 2005, 08:17:44 PM »

I shouldn't have an opinion as I listened on $10 speakers, but I posted all ready.

aberg · « **Reply #15 on:** December 21, 2005, 09:30:30 PM »

hahah, $10 speakers.

I always use headphones for these types of comparisons.

Anyways, I've kept it secret long enough, here are the results:

From the first comparison:
002 = Neumann KM184's
003 = AKG 393's

From the second comparison:
1A = Neumann KM184's
1B = AKG 393's
2A = Neumann KM184's
2B = AKG 393's

The vote in terms of preference was fairly split, with the nudge perhaps going to the 184's due to their performance in the second comparison. My opinion is that from this preliminary test taping off the stereo in the living room, it's too close to really tell which one is the clearcut winner (if there even is one).

I will be doing a true test at moe in Syracuse next month, unless somebody buys the 393's in the next day or so. Ideally, I'll keep everything until after the test, and sell the one which I like least.

Thanks everyone for listening to the samples and giving your opinions!

dgodwin · « **Reply #16 on:** December 21, 2005, 09:41:54 PM »

Since I got it right, and ed didn't.... Does that mean that my $10 speakers are better than his, or just that I haven't been to as many rock shows without my earplugs.

aberg · « **Reply #17 on:** December 21, 2005, 09:47:10 PM »

Quote from: Aaron41 on December 21, 2005, 04:04:03 PM

I like 1B more than 1A. There seems to be better stereo separation and placement. The instruments are in deeper in your head instead of right in front. Again, don't know if any of this is making sense. lol

I also like 2B more than 2A for the same reason.

Watch... 1B will be the same mic as 2A and totally blow my mind.

I will say though that both mics sound great. I'm happy I picked up the 391s. Just gotta get out and tape.

You should be very happy then, since the B samples are the AKG's... you'll be happy with your mics man!

Ed. · « **Reply #18 on:** December 21, 2005, 10:00:01 PM »

Quote from: dgodwin on December 21, 2005, 09:41:54 PM

Since I got it right, and ed didn't.... Does that mean that my $10 speakers are better than his, or just that I haven't been to as many rock shows without my earplugs.

haha, well, i was listening on my roommates radioshack headphones from my laptop sound card. either way, i'm impressed with both sets of mics.

dgodwin · « **Reply #19 on:** December 21, 2005, 10:19:46 PM »

Quote from: Ed. on December 21, 2005, 10:00:01 PM

Quote from: dgodwin on December 21, 2005, 09:41:54 PM
Since I got it right, and ed didn't.... Does that mean that my $10 speakers are better than his, or just that I haven't been to as many rock shows without my earplugs.

haha, well, i was listening on my roommates radioshack headphones from my laptop sound card. either way, i'm impressed with both sets of mics.

I guess I should've said that too. Both mics sounded nice.

So.. $10 KLH speakers > borrowed radioshack headphones

Ed. · « **Reply #20 on:** December 21, 2005, 10:28:13 PM »

Quote from: dgodwin on December 21, 2005, 10:19:46 PM

So.. $10 KLH speakers > borrowed radioshack headphones

haha +t

poorlyconditioned · « **Reply #21 on:** December 22, 2005, 01:21:37 AM »

Quote from: aberg83 on December 21, 2005, 09:30:30 PM

hahah, $10 speakers.

I always use headphones for these types of comparisons.

Anyways, I've kept it secret long enough, here are the results:

From the first comparison:
002 = Neumann KM184's
003 = AKG 393's

From the second comparison:
1A = Neumann KM184's
1B = AKG 393's
2A = Neumann KM184's
2B = AKG 393's

The vote in terms of preference was fairly split, with the nudge perhaps going to the 184's due to their performance in the second comparison. My opinion is that from this preliminary test taping off the stereo in the living room, it's too close to really tell which one is the clearcut winner (if there even is one).

I will be doing a true test at moe in Syracuse next month, unless somebody buys the 393's in the next day or so. Ideally, I'll keep everything until after the test, and sell the one which I like least.

Thanks everyone for listening to the samples and giving your opinions!

Thanks Andrew! Please try to run both mics in a live setting. I think we'll hear more. Now, ideally it would an an acoustic venue. That is where i expect the Neumann to shine. But I'd still like to hear a PA recording since that is what most of us tapirs do. Finally, please keep in mind that we are comparing cards to hypers, so they may sound a little different in a live room.

Richard

aberg · « **Reply #22 on:** December 22, 2005, 01:53:38 AM »

Yeah, if I hadn't sold my card caps to you for the 390's, that's the comparison I would have been posting

I'm mostly doing this for myself as a test in my usual taping environments to see, between these exact 2 sets of mics, which I prefer... and I'm sharing for all, just to help with other people's decisions.

My gut tells me that this comparison might really improve people's opinions of the 390's, as sometimes I get the sense that they're an under-rated mic when put against all the bigger budget setups.

Aaron41 · « **Reply #23 on:** December 22, 2005, 02:25:38 AM »

Quote from: aberg83 on December 21, 2005, 09:47:10 PM

Quote from: Aaron41 on December 21, 2005, 04:04:03 PM
I like 1B more than 1A. There seems to be better stereo separation and placement. The instruments are in deeper in your head instead of right in front. Again, don't know if any of this is making sense. lol

I also like 2B more than 2A for the same reason.

Watch... 1B will be the same mic as 2A and totally blow my mind.

I will say though that both mics sound great. I'm happy I picked up the 391s. Just gotta get out and tape.

You should be very happy then, since the B samples are the AKG's... you'll be happy with your mics man!

That is AWESOME. Now we just need to hear comparisons between the 390s and some 480s so I can find out if I ever truly need to upgrade.

aberg · « **Reply #24 on:** December 22, 2005, 02:47:12 AM »

Quote from: Aaron41 on December 22, 2005, 02:25:38 AM

Quote from: aberg83 on December 21, 2005, 09:47:10 PM
Quote from: Aaron41 on December 21, 2005, 04:04:03 PM
I like 1B more than 1A. There seems to be better stereo separation and placement. The instruments are in deeper in your head instead of right in front. Again, don't know if any of this is making sense. lol

I also like 2B more than 2A for the same reason.

Watch... 1B will be the same mic as 2A and totally blow my mind.

I will say though that both mics sound great. I'm happy I picked up the 391s. Just gotta get out and tape.

You should be very happy then, since the B samples are the AKG's... you'll be happy with your mics man!

That is AWESOME. Now we just need to hear comparisons between the 390s and some 480s so I can find out if I ever truly need to upgrade.

I'd recommend running your mics for at least 6-12 months before looking into that sort of comparison, haha. The mere mention of it will bring all those 480 fluffers in here, and we don't want that, do we?

jk, 480's are sexy as are most AKG's.

wbrisette · « **Reply #25 on:** December 29, 2005, 02:54:07 PM »

Quote from: aberg83 on December 22, 2005, 02:47:12 AM

I'd recommend running your mics for at least 6-12 months before looking into that sort of comparison, haha. The mere mention of it will bring all those 480 fluffers in here, and we don't want that, do we? jk, 480's are sexy as are most AKG's.

I ran the bluelines for a couple of years (391s) I liked them a lot and in fact, still have a few shows that I recorded with them that I prefer to other sources. However, I never liked the sound of the 480s. I always felt they were a bit too hyped up in the bottom end. I want a nice clean bottom end... but I'm spoiled and usually run 3 or 4 mics. The addition of an omni to a set of cards will do wonders for a recording... however that also means a different mixer than what most people are using. Anyhow, I loved the bluelines, but didn't care much for the sibling 480 series....

Wayne